Traction device



May 11, 1943. c. P. GALANOT EI'AL TRACTION DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1941 like is avoided.

Patented May 11,

TRACTION DEVICE Camille P. .Galanot, Alliance, Ohio, and James A.

Watson, J12; Silver Spring, I Md., themselves and Charles L/Galanot,

assignors to Alliance,

hio,and Harold F. Watson, Silver Spring, Md,

as trustees Application August 20, 1941, Serial No. 407,634

' scl im lol. 305-) This invention relates to traction devices of the general type described in our copending application Serial No. 335,124, filed May14, 1940, and more particularly to the belt or connecting means between the traction shoes of such devices. It is the general object of the present invention to provide a novel and advantageous type of belt particularly adapted for use in connection with traction devices, and comprising a plurality of sections having novel means associated therewith for efiecting connection between adjacent belt sections.

Another object of the invention is the provision tional belt of the type in question, comprising complementary elements at the respective ends of each section for engagement with the mating elementsof the adjacent sections, such elements being provided with lateral projections and mating recesses for interlocking engagement to transmit tension forces, together with transverselyex- Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a traction device comprising a connecting belt constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of a connecting belt according to the invention;

Figure 3 is aside elevation of the belt of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line M of Figure 3; and I Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative form of connecting element.

In order to facilitate an understanding or the invention, reference is made to the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and detailed descriptive language is employed; It

' will nevertheless be understood that no limitatending securing means for maintaining the conheating elements in interlocking relation, said securing means being associated with the connecting elements in such a manner that no tension forces are transmitted through the securing means.

Another object is the provision of connecting elements of complementary form, each said element being provided with a plurality of lateral projections and corresponding recesses, one lat-- eral projection and the corresponding recess of each mating pair of elements being formed differently from the other projections and recesses,

whereby the respective elements of a mating pair may only be assembled in one predetermined relation, thus facilitating assembly under conditions of poor visibility. i

, g. -A further object is the provision of a belt of the type described, which may be readily disassembled, for example in the field, without detaching any parts of elements from the respective sectionsthereof, whereby the loss or misplacement of small elements such as nuts, bolts, and the tion of the invention is thereby intended and that various changes and alterations are con templated such as would ordinarily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

As more fully described in our copending application Serial No. 335,124, a traction device of the general type with which the present invention is concerned comprises a connecting belt and a series of traction shoes secured thereon at spaced intervals. The connecting belt may be made in a single length, or ina plurality of sections, the latter being preferred for the reason that it facilitates the assembly of such traction devices in the field, and permits their ready adaptation to various types or vehicles, all as more fully explained in our said copending application. Each belt section may be provided with one or more traction shoes, the greatest flexibility of assembly being provided, of course, when each beltisection carries but one traction shoe. For present purposes the latter type of belt is illustrated and described, but it will be understood that the objects and advantages of the present invention may also be secured by employing the invention in connection with belt sections carrying two or more traction shoes.

Referring now to Figure l, the traction device portion there illustrated comprises generally a connecting belt l0 and, a series of spaced traction shoes II secured to the belt l0. Each traction shoe H carries a guide block I! for guiding the same relative to the wheels of the vehicle with which it is associated, said guide block also preferably enclosing adjusting means for varybroader than the remaining teeth and recesses. but other variations in form might be employed. However, it is preferable to employ only such a variation in form that the assembly of the 'remanner described in our said copending application.

The links intervening between the connecting elements l4 and I respectively, and the adjusting block I6, comprise the outer links l3 and inner links l9, both of which are preferably of laminated structure. The respective ends of the links I 6, l8 and I3, and the inner ends of links or connecting elements I4 and I5 are suitably apertured to receive the connecting 'pins 20,

which latter make a tight pressed fit with'the' outer links l8 and, after assembly, are upset into the countersunk outer leaves of the links l8 as at 2| in order to permanently secure the respective links in assembled relationship.

A metal bushing 24 (Figure 4) surrounds the central portion of each pin 20 and is rotatable relative thereto, each bushing 24 making a tight pressed fit with the associated inner link i9. It will thus be understood that the only relative spective elements by a relative transverse movement is not. interfered with.

The respective arms I5 of the connecting elements l5 are apertured to receive a bolt 32, and each connecting element I 4 is slotted as at 33 to provide clearance for the bolt. 32. The slot 33 is madesomewhat wider than the diameter of the bolt 32, so that no part of the connecting element 14 will engage the bolt. It will thus be appre- 'ciated that the tension forces to which the belt is subjected will be transmitted in their entirety through the teeth 26 and 28., there being no forces stressing the bolt 32 in shear. Also, by virtue of this arrangement there is no tendency for the bolts 32 to rotate in service, inadvertent movement which takes place during flexion of the belt is a relative rotation between the pins 20 and the bushings 24. In order to seal the bearings thus constituted against the intrusion of dirt, moisture, and other foreign matters, a compressible, resilient sealing washer 25, which may for example be formed ,of

neoprene or similar material, is interposed between the adjacent s'urfaces of the inner and outer links engagingeach pin, and closely encircles.

the pin thus sealing the respective ends of the bushings 24. -The washers 25 are preferably compressed during assembly of the belt to such an extent as will ensure an adequate sealing action. The bearing surfaces of the pins 20 and bushings 24 may be suitably lubricated during assembly of the belt and will not require further lubrication, since the washers 25 will prevent loss of the lubricant as well as entrance of foreign matter.

The'connecting elements l4 and i5 at the respective ends of each belt section are of complementary form, so that each connecting element is adapted to closely engage,in interlocking en.- gagement, the mating connecting element of the adjacent belt section. The element 15 is preferably bifurcated, as shown, the inner surfaces of the respective arms l5 being provided with transversely extending projections or teeth 26, providing interveningrecesses 21. The lateral surfaces of the elements l4 are similarly provided with transversely extending teeth 28 and corresponding recesses 29 for engagement with the recesses 21 and teeth 26, respectively, of the elements I5.

In order that the mating elements l4 and I5 of two adjacent sections may be properly assembled in darkness or under other conditions of poor visibility, at least one tooth 30 of each element l4 and the corresponding recess 3| of each element I 5 are formed differently from the remaining teeth and recesses. In the illustrated embodiment, the tooth 30 and recess 3| are made loosening of the nuts 34 being thus avoided.

The bolts 32 are permanently associated with the connecting elements IS, the end of,ea.ch bolt being turned over as at 35 after the nut 34 has been threaded thereon at the factory.

In assembling a plurality of sections into a conin the course of assembly tinuous belt, each mating pair of connecting elements may be joined in thefollowing manner. The nut 34 is retracted, and the connecting element I 4 is moved transversely into interlocking engagement between the arms l5 of the connecting element ii of the adjacent belt section, the connecting element l4 thus embracing but not engaging the bolt 32. The nut 34 is then tightened sufilciently to press the arms I5 into firm engagement with the element i4 and .the operation is complete. As explained above, there is no tendency for the nut 34 to work loose, as there is no relative movement between the bolt 32 and the-element l5.

In disassembling the belt, the nut 34 is retracted sufliciently to release the pressure of the arms l5 against the element i4, when the latter may be withdrawn from engagement with the former by simple transverse movement. No elements are detached, the'bolt 32 and nut 34 being permanently associated with the connecting element l5, and their loss or displacement being thus avoided.

Preferably the teeth 26, 28 and 30 are tapered as shownand are made slightly broader (i. e.,

in a direction longitudinally of the belt) than i the correspondingrecesses, so that any wearing of the walls of the teeth and recesses may be compensated by simply tighteningthe nut 34, without in any way affecting the length of the belt. 1

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a belt for traction devices accomplishing the objects and possessing the advantages hereinbefore enumerated.

The advantages set forth may also be realized in large part by utilizing the form of connecting elements shown in Figure 5 in which the bifurcated element is not toothed, but is provided with a single large recess defined by its respective arms and by inwardly directed projections at the distal claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Connecting means for the sections of sectional belts, comprising complementary connecting elements at the respective ends of each section, each said element having lateral projections for tension-transmitting engagement with mating recesses of the complementary connecting element of the adjacent section, and means for securing the connecting elements of adjacent sections in interlocking relation, one of said lateral projections and the corresponding recess of a mating pair of elements being given a complementary form difiering from that of the remaining projections and recesses, whereby said mating pair may only be assembled in. one predetermined relation.

2. Connecting means for the sections of secmating recesses of the complementary connecting 7 element of the adjacent section, and means for tional belts, comprising complementary connecting elements at the respective ends of each section, each said element having a longitudinal surface provided with transverse teeth and a1- temating grooves,'one tooth and the corresponding groove of a mating pair being of difierent dimensions than the remaining teeth and grooves, whereby said mating pair may only be in one predetermined relation.

3. Connecting means for the sections of sectional belts, comprising complementary con necting elements at the respective ends of each section, each said element having lateral projections for tension-transmitting engagement with mating recesses of the complementary con-,

necting element of the adjacent section, and means for securing the connecting elements of adjacent sections in interlocking relation, said last means comprising a member extending transversely of said connecting elements and adapted to clamp them together, said connecting elements being formed with aligned apertures to receive said securing member, the aperture of one of said elements being larger than the crosssection of said securing member, whereby the latter is incapable of transmitting tension stresses between said elements.

assembled securing the connecting elements of adjacent sections in interlocking relation, said last means comprising a member extending transversely through said connecting elements, one of said elements being bifurcated and having its said projections longitudinally spaced and extendin inwardly from its respective arms, said other element having its said projections spaced to be engaged between said spaced projections of said first element by a relative movement transverse to the length of said belt sections.

5. Connecting means for the sections of sectional belts, comprising complementary connecting elements at the respective ends of each section, each said element having lateral projections for tension-transmitting engagement with mating recesses of the complementary connecting element of the adjacent section, and means gar securing the connecting elements of adjacent sections in interlocking relation, said last means comprising a member extending transversely through said connecting elements, one of said elements being bifurcated and having its said projections longitudinally spaced and extending inwardly from its respective arms, said other element having its said projections spaced to be engaged between said spaced projections of said first element by a relative movement transverse to the length of said belt sections, said securing means being permanently associated with said bifurcated element and said other element having a transverse slot providing clearance for said 'securlng means when said elements are moved into interlocking relation.

ill 1 JAMES A. 

